If you are starting your journey of faith, or even if you have been a Christian for many years, there is one point in your life where you want to learn more about Jesus.
The Bible is our main source of information about Him, but there are also many other resources that can help us understand more about His life. One question that people often think about is whether Jesus was married or not.
Most of the Church Fathers would be quick to say that Jesus was not married, but for a person who doesn’t fully understand the meaning of the Bride of Christ in the Bible, this answer may be confusing.
Fortunately, here we don’t judge but want to help you understand the reality and the truth about this question. So, keep reading to learn more!
A Brief Overview of the Bible’s Teaching on Marriage.
The Bible is very clear that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. In the book of Genesis, we see that God created Eve to be a suitable companion for Adam.
From the beginning, it was God’s plan for them to be together and start a family. The Bible goes on to say that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).
This is a clear indication that God’s design for marriage is for a man and woman to be together for life. So, marriage is not just a physical or emotional relationship, but it is also a spiritual one.
When two people are married, they become one in God’s eyes. This is a beautiful picture of the union that God intended for marriage.
Where Did The Belief That Jesus Was Married Originate?
The belief that Jesus was married originates mostly from heresies that were developed many years after the time of the apostles.
One of the main sources that people use to support this theory is the Gnostic Gospel of Philip. The most complete version of the gospel was found in Egypt in 1945, but there are also fragments of it that were found in Greece and Syria.
The truth is that the Da Vince Code (by Dan Brown) has done a lot to promote this theory in recent years. However, the fact is that this gospel was not written by Philip.
We know this because it was written in Coptic, which was not a language that Philip would have spoken. Also, the gospel contains Gnostic teachings, which were not taught by the apostles.
So, we can see that this gospel is not a reliable source of information about the life of Jesus, and we should not put too much stock on it.
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The Main Theory That Says Jesus Was Married
Now that we have seen that the Bible does not support the theory that Jesus was married, let’s take a look at the main theory that suggests He was.
The Theory That The Wife of Jesus Was Mary Magdalene
The basis for this theory comes from a number of sources, including the Gnostic Gospels, in which 52 texts were discovered in a papyrus in Egypt. One of these texts, the Gospel of Philip, includes a reference to Jesus kissing Mary Magdalene on the mouth.
Who Was Mary Magdalene?
Mary Magdalene was one of the followers of Jesus, who is mentioned several times in the New Testament. She is first introduced in Luke 8:1-3 as someone who had been delivered from seven demons.
There are also a number of non-canonical texts that refer to Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife. The Gospel of Mary, for example, depicts Mary as a close confidante of Jesus and even says that she was the one who understood his teachings better than any of the other disciples.
But these don’t necessarily hold up to scrutiny. Since these texts are not approved by the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, they cannot be used as reliable sources for information about Jesus.
Many of the Early Church Fathers warn us against using these Gnostic texts as they are often full of false information and heresy.
So, Did Jesus Have A Wife?
No. If Jesus had been married, it would have been mentioned in the Bible. Since the Bible is silent on the matter, we can be confident that Jesus was not married.
Also, the fact that Jesus was not married is actually a good thing. It shows us that He was completely focused on His mission, which was to save us from our sins.
If Jesus had been married, He would have not been celibate like the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 7:7). And if He was not celibate, then He would have been sinning.
Don’t think that marriage is a sin because it’s not. But if we are married, we are called to be faithful to our spouses. Jesus was faithful to us, even though we are sinners. And that is a great example for us to follow.
So, while the theory that Jesus was married is interesting, it is not supported by the Bible or Early Church Tradition. And we should be careful about believing everything we read, especially when it comes to noncanonical sources online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Wives Did Jesus Have?
Jesus Christ did not have any wives or children. The Bible (which is the only authoritative book about Jesus’s life), shows us that He was not married. He was celibate and led a sinless life.
This makes all the claims that He was married or that He had children null and void. Any supposed “gospels” or writings that say otherwise are not reliable and should not be given any credence.
Was Jesus Married to Anna?
No, Anna (Holy, Righteous Anna the Prophetess) was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser. She was in very old age when she met Jesus in the temple and spoke about Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).
She was not married to Jesus but instead was a righteous woman who had the honor of meeting the Messiah and testifying about Him.
Who Was Mary Magdalene’s Husband?
We don’t see anything in the New Testament that would indicate that Mary Magdalene had a husband. In fact, in all four accounts of her meeting with Jesus Christ (in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), there is no mention of her being married.
Final Thoughts
I feel like it’s important to reiterate that the theory that Jesus was married is just that—a theory. It’s not based on any concrete evidence, and there are many other theories about Jesus’ life and relationships that are just as likely, if not more likely.
Make sure to download our free prayer cheat sheet to help you remember to pray every day! Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life, and it’s something that we should be doing!
Charalampos
Charalampos is an Orthodox Christian who wants to help others learn about Christianity. His main goal is to help people understand the Bible and how to apply its teachings in their everyday lives. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and hiking.
Connecting with God is essential to praying effectively and receiving answers. Our FREE cheat sheet will help you build a strong relationship with God and create an effective prayer life.
